title: Painless acute aortic dissection presenting as left lower extremity numbness.
abstract: Acute aortic dissection may have variable presentations, making the diagnosis clinically challenging. Acute neurologic syndromes secondary to dissection of the aorta are uncommon. However, including aortic dissection in the differential diagnosis is imperative. This report describes the first reported case of an acute thoracic aortic dissection presenting with the chief complaint of unilateral lower extremity numbness. Peripheral ischemic neuropathy as the result of vascular occlusion is uncommon. The pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of ischemic neuropathies in the setting of acute aortic dissection are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Joint Military Medical Centers, Emergency Medicine Residency, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manthey
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008875:Middle Aged; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology*